KAWASAKI, JAPAN - Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corporation (hereinafter, “Toshiba ESS”) is pleased to announce that on May 30, 2022, an agreement was reached with Echandia, a Swedish company engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of batteries and fuel cell systems for maritime applications, to explore the possibility of jointly developing a market for ships that use pure hydrogen fuel cell systems in order to respond to the accelerating electrification of shipping in Europe. Going forward, the two companies will explore technical collaboration to develop a pure hydrogen fuel cell system, which will be equipped with Toshiba ESS’s pure hydrogen fuel cells, for marine applications suitable for long time continuous operation.

In response to the global trend toward decarbonization, the shipping industry is also stepping up its environmental initiatives. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), overall carbon dioxide emissions from shipping increased nearly 10% from 2012–2018, accounting for 2.9% of global anthropogenic emissions. This represents a substantial amount of emissions, and the IMO has set its own targets for significantly reducing emissions by 2030. The Nordic countries in particular are leading the movement toward the decarbonization of shipping, with each country passing its own legislation regulating environmental measures for ships, and are expediting the development of electric systems using fuel cells and batteries.

Headquartered in Sweden, Echandia is developing energy storage solutions for maritime electrification in Europe and elsewhere. They are forming partnerships with various companies and undertaking projects aimed at decarbonization and electrification, including an order for fuel cell systems and heavy-duty batteries for high-speed ferries to operate in Stockholm, Sweden.

Echandia and Toshiba ESS will consider the possibility of incorporating the next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cell currently under development by Toshiba ESS into the electric propulsion systems for ships being developed by Echandia, with the joint aim of commercializing a longer-life pure hydrogen fuel cell system around 2024. By integrating these next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cells, the systems for ships currently under development are expected to last approximately 200% longer.
In addition, the two companies will explore future collaboration to expand the market for zero-emission vessels in Europe.

Magnus Eriksson, CEO Echandia, says,“Echandia is proud to announce this partnership with Toshiba, a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology. We have a long history of working successfully together, and I am excited to strengthen the relationship further. Toshiba will be an invaluable partner in terms of develop our fuel cell systems.”

Shigehiro Kawahara, Vice President of the Energy Aggregation Div., says, “Since Toshiba began working on fuel cell systems in the 1960s, we have been advancing the development of hydrogen-related technologies. Striving toward the realization of a hydrogen society, we aim to provide high value-added hydrogen solutions by integrating related technologies such as renewable energy-derived hydrogen energy. By expanding our business through this collaboration, we will help make a carbon-neutral society a reality.”

About Echandia

Echandia is a world leader in the development of advanced battery and fuel-cell systems for maritime and industrial applications. Echandias solutions are designed to meet the highest quality and life-time requirements and endure the toughest demands and operational profiles. Echandia is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

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